Coin collection system



y 1967 w. c. HUTTON ETAL 3,321,129

COIN COLLECTION SYSTEM Filed June 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROBE/W6. DOA/KIN DAV/E5 ALLPORT W/LL/AMG HUTTO/V BY lmfiawm Wu ATTORfiEYs INVENTORS WILLIAM. SHENKLE y 23, 19677 w. c. HUTTON ETAL 3,321,129

COIN COLLECTION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1965 w NM 0 a w 6 W 6 I.

United States Patent 3,321,129 COIN COLLECTION SYSTEM William C. Hutton, Denton, Tex., Robert G. Donkin, Tulsa, Okla., Davies Allport, Denton, Tex., and William H. Shenkle, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Rockwell Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 16, 1965, Ser. No. 464,390 6 Claims. (Cl. 23216) This invention relates to coin collection systems and more particularly to systems for collecting coins or tokens from coin ope-rated machines such as parking meters or vending machines.

This invention is, however, particularly applicable to devices, such as parking meters, where it is dimcult to check the amount of money which should be contained in the coin box against the amount actually turned in by the coin collector. Such devices are particularly subject to pilfering and thus require some means for safeguarding the coins continuously throughout the collection operation.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide novel means for transferring coins from a portable coin box into a closed container in such a manner that the coin box is open only at a time when both the coins and coin box opening are inaccessible to the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel simplified coin collection apparatus which requires only insertion of a coin box within the apparatus for unlocking and opening of the coin box and which provides effective protection against pilfering.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel coin collection apparatus using a linear lock and key arrangement as more fully described in copending application, Serial *No. 453,989, filed May 7, 1965, for Locks, wherein the linear key may be easily mounted and demounted in a collection head which defines a closed passageway leading to a coin container.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel coin collect-ion head for mounting on a coin container and having a key detachably mounted therein for automatically unlocking a linear lock on a coin box inserted therein and additional means mounted therein to prevent removal of the coin box while it is in the unlocked and open condition.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the coin collection system of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partially in section, of part of the coin collection system of FIGURE 1 showing the coin box in coin dumping position;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates the basic components of the novel coin collection system of this invention including a coin collection head 10, a coin box 12, and a canister-like container member 14. Collection head is specifically designed to be made from a single casting. A flange 16 is provided for mounting the collection head on container member 14 for re- 3,321,129 Patented May 2 3, 1967 ceiving coins from box 12. Collection head 10 may be mounted in any suitable theft-proof manner such as by means of a lock 18 which prevents unauthorized removal of the head. A coin passage 20, as shown in FIGURE 2, is provided in collection head 10 for delivering coins from coin box 12 to container 14.

The upper portion of collection head 10 provides a recess which receives box 12 only when the box is oriented in a definite manner. Generally, as shown in FIGURE 2, this recess is defined by a front wall 22, side walls 24, and an arcuate rear wall 26. A generally upwardly outwardly flaring lip 28 may be provided on front wall 22 and side walls 24 for guiding box 12 into the recess. The interior surface of rear wall 26 is provided with a centrally located inwardly projecting semi-cylindrical rib 30 which extends longitudinally for substantially the length of the rear wall. The interior surfaces of side walls 24 are pro vided with inwardly extending bosses 32 formed on the same curvature as the rear wall 26 thereby forming a pair of channels 34. Rear wall 26 of the collection head is also provided with a hood-like top portion 36 which partially covers the recess and extends forwardly and upwardly from rear wall 26.

Front wall 22 of the collection head, as shown in FIG- URE 3, carries an inwardly extending boss 40 having a cylindrical recess 44 for the reception of the cylindrical stem 46 of a key, indicated generally at 48. The key is held in place by a set screw 50. This type of key is more fully described in copending application, Serial No. 453,989.

The lower portion of collection head 10 comprises a rounded hollow member 60 formed in a substantially goose neck configuration defining the lower portion of coin passageway 2d. The lower end of member 60 is open to communicate freely with the interior of container 14. A pair of aligned holes 64 are provided in member 60 for attaching a flexible bladder-like member 66, for example, by a cotter pin 68. In general, passageway 20 defined in collection head 10 is of such a configuration that it is extremely diflicult to shake coins out of container 14 when inverted. Protection against pilfering of coins in this manner is further provided by member 66 which is preferably made of cloth, rubberized material or plastic. Member 66 may be of wedge-like configuration having a slot at its lower end or any other suitable configuration to provide a narrow neck portion at its lower end.

Coin box 12 is provided with a front wall 70, a rear wall 72, side walls 74, bottom wall 76, and a cover '78 which may be welded to the box body. Box 12 may be of any of the sizes used in conventional coin operated machines. Upper cover 78 is provided with a vertically convergent coin receiving slot 8t A door 86, pivotally mounted on pins 88 (one shown) on front wall 70, provides a coin discharge opening in the front wall of the coin box. Door 86 is normally held closed by a linear locking means 90, details of which have been omitted for clarity. The lock is fully described in the above-mentioned copending application, Serial No. 453,989. Locking means 90 is of such construction that it is only unlocked when a key, such as key 48, is fully inserted in key hole 92. Generally the locking means described in the forementioned copending application comprises a pair of catch members extending from the edges of door 86 for engaging corresponding slots in the box side walls. The catch members are provided with locking members which abut a plurality of rotary abutment members spring biased to a position in which they block movement of the locking members to the unlocked position. The insertion of the key into the locking means rotates the rotary abutment members to a position which allows the locking members to move into unlocked position thereby freeing the catch members from the slotted sidewalls.

Each side of coin box 12, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, is also provided at its lower rear corner with rounded guiding portions 94 and with outwardly extending lugs 96 defining grooves 97. The lower rear edge 98 of coin box 12, as shown in FIGURE 4, may be curved inwardly with a radius of curvature slightly larger than that of central rib 30 on collection head 10.

When coin box 12 is inserted within the recess in collection head 10, key 48 enters the key hole in door 86 to unlock locking means 90. Coin box 12 can then be pivoted about pins 88 which define a horizontal axis slightly above key 48 dumping its contents into passageway 20. Such pivotal motion causes lugs 96 to move upwardly in channels 34, boss members 32 being engaged in grooves 97. This nesting of lugs 96 and boss members 32 provides a guide for dumping the coin box and prevents removal of the coin box from the recess in collector head when the coin box is in the open or coin dumping position. Central rib 30 and top member 36 may be used in combination with boss members 32 or, alternatively, they may be used alone to prevent box 12 from being removed from the collector head recess when the box is in the open position. In the latter arrangement, central rib 30 protrudes into curved edge 98 to prevent twisting of the box from under the hood-like top 36. The only way in which box 12 can be removed from the collection head recess once it has been inserted therein is by pivoting the box to close door 86 and then pulling the box upwardly out of the recess. Closing of door 86 and removal of key 48 automatically locks linear locking mechanism 90. Thus, the only time that box 12 is in the unlocked condition is when it is inserted as far as possible in the collection head recess.

Collection head 10.is so dimensioned that the bottom of box 12 when fully inserted therein protrudes into goose neck member 60 thereby preventing pilfering by the insertion of paper, rags or other such material within the goose neck to catch coins which fall from the box when in dumping position.

Thus, coins are collected in a suitable portable collection box which is in locked condition at all times the coin collector has access to it and is unlocked merely by inserting it fully into a collection head recess. Due to the novel structure of the collection head, the coin box is blocked from removal from the collection head any time when it is in the open or unlocked condition to provide positive protection against pilfering. In addition to these advantages, the entire collection system is both economical and simplified compared with prior comparable systems.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin collection system comprising a portable coin box having a coin discharge opening therein, a door pivotally mounted on said box for normally closing said opening to prevent removal of coins from said box, a lock for locking said door in closed position and a key receiving opening in said door, a hollow coin collecting member having a front wall against which said door is adapted to be disposed, side walls closely confining the side walls of said box and a rear wall, the spacing between said front and rear walls of said member being sufficient to permit said coin box to swing therin about its pivotal connection with said door; means within said member for unlocking said lock solely in response to the insertion of said coin box into said member and co-operating rib and groove formations on said coin box and said coin collecting member for preventing withdrawal of said coin box while said door is unlocked and said coin discharge opening is open, and a closed coin receiving container communicating with said recess.

2. A coin collecting system comprising a portable coin box having a coin discharge opening therein, a door pivotally mounted on said box normally closing said opening to prevent removal of coins from said coin box, a lock for locking said door in closed position and a key receiving opening in said door, a coin collecting member comprising means defining a recess for receiving said coin box, said recess having an upwardly extending front wall, side walls, and a rear wall, means within said recess for unlocking said lock solely in response to the insertion of said coin box into said recess, means within said recess for permitting emptying movement of said coin box to permit the removal of coins therefrom while said door is unlocked, and means within said recess preventing withdrawal of said box while said door is unlocked and said coin discharge opening is open comprising, a pair of lugs extending from a rear portion of said coin box and a pair of bosses extending inwardly from the side walls of said recess for engagement with said lugs when said coin discharge opening is open, and a closed coin receiving container communicating with said recess.

3. The coin collecting system defined in claim 2 wherein said means for preventing withdrawal of said coin box includes a rib projecting inwardly from the rear wall of said recess in said coin collecting member and a top member partially extending over said recess.

4. The coin collecting system defined in claim 2 wherein said unlocking means within said recess comprises a key member which fits into said key-receiving opening when said coin box is inserted into said recess.

5. A coin collection head comprising a cast unitary member having an open topped recess defining upper portion comprising an essentially flat front wall, a pair of sidewalls and an arcuate rear wall, a key member mounted within said recess closely adjacent said front wall said key extending upwardly toward the open top of said recess, guide means rigidly mounted on said side walls adjacent said rear wall; and a lower portion freely communicating with said recess comprising a hollow curved coin guide means.

6. A coin collecting apparatus for use with a coin box having a hinged door with a linear locking means having a key opening mounted thereon for covering a coin discharge recess in said box comprising: a coin collection head mounted on a coin receiving container and defining a closed passageway into said container, said coin collection head having an upper portion and a lower portion freely communicating with each other, said upper portion having a coin box receiving recess therein defined by a front wall, a pair of side walls, and a substantially arcuate rear wall, a top member extending upwardly from said rear wall over a portion of said recess, an abutment member extending inwardly from the lower portion of said front wall, a linear key means mounted on said abutment member and extending upwardly substantially parallel to said front wall and a rib means extending inwardly from said rear wall for substantially the length thereof, said linear key means being positioned within said recess to enter said key opening when said coin box is inserted in said recess for unlocking said locking means solely in response to the insertion of said coin box into said recess and said rib being positioned to enable said coin box to be pivoted forwardly when inserted into said recess but to prevent twisting and removal thereof while 2,813,674 11/1957 Eames 232- 16 in the pivoted position. 2,815,166 12/1957 Sellenberger 23216 2,992,771 7/1961 McClung 23216 References Cited by the Examiner 3,056, 58 12 19 2 Tiptgn 232-1 UNITED STATES A S 5 3,074,626 1/1963 Lewis 232-16 1,011,815 1 2/1911 Kohler 232-16 4 2,277,916 3/1942 Klemt 232 16 FRANK B. SHERRY, Plzmary Examiner.

2,779,535 1 1957 Jones 232-16 FRANCIS ZUGEL, Examiner- 

1. A COIN COLLECTION SYSTEM COMPRISING A PORTABLE COIN BOX HAVING A COIN DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN, A DOOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BOX FOR NORMALLY CLOSING SAID OPENING TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF COINS FROM SAID BOX, A LOCK FOR LOCKING SAID DOOR IN CLOSED POSITION AND A KEY RECEIVING OPENING IN SAID DOOR, A HOLLOW COIN COLLECTING MEMBER HAVING A FRONT WALL AGAINST WHICH SAID DOOR IS ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED, SIDE WALLS CLOSELY CONFINING THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID BOX AND A REAR WALL, THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS OF SAID MEMBER BEING SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT SAID COIN BOX TO SWING THEREIN ABOUT ITS PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH SAID DOOR; MEANS WITHIN SAID MEMBER FOR UNLOCKING SAID LOCK SOLELY IN RESPONSE TO THE INSERTION OF SAID COIN BOX INTO SAID MEMBER AND CO-OPERATING RIB AND GROOVE FORMATIONS ON SAID COIN BOX AND SAID COIN COLLECTING MEMBER FOR PREVENTING WITHDRAWAL OF SAID COIN BOX WHILE SAID DOOR IS UNLOCKED AND SAID COIN DISCHARGE OPENING IS OPEN, AND A CLOSED COIN RECEIVING CONTAINER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RECESS. 